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THE MERMAID.

FROM THE GERMAN OF GOETHE.

THE sea-wave falls-the sea wave flows; On lonely rock the Fisher lies, In clear cool stream his hook he throws, And views the bait with wistful eyes; And as his silent task he plies, Behold! the floods apart are flung,And where the circling eddies rise, A Mermaid's form hath upward sprung! And soft her tones-and sweet her song; "O, Fisher! why my train decoy? "With craft of man-still wise in wrong"Why seek to change to death their joy? "O! wist thou hear what tasks employ"What bliss the tribes of ocean know,

"No more the days could care annoy, "But peace besought these waves below!" "And seek not aye the glorious sun,

"And beauteous moon, our watery rest? "And springs not each, its course to run, "Wave-wash'd, in teufold glory drest; "And charms not thee in Ocean's breast "This neither heaven of loveliest blue?"Charms not thine own fair form imprest "In liquid limning soft and true?" The sea-wave falls-the sea-wave flowsAt length around his feet is flung; He starts-the flame within him glows, That erst on love's embraces hung! And sweeter yet the sea-maid sung, And sought, half-met, the charming shore; Her arms around her victim AlungAnd ne'er was seen that Fisher more!

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COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.

HIS Theatre, which is generally accounted Tto be the most fashionable and comfortable of our Winter Houses is indebted for its primary origin to a patent granted, in 1662, to Sir W. D'Avenant, whose company was denominated the duke's servants, as a compliment to the duke of York, who was afterwards James II. The theatre which preceded the present, was first opened by the celebrated Rich, about 1732, but after undergoing several alterations, was destroyed by fire, Sept.20, 1808. The new theatre was erected during the ensuing year, the first stone having been laid by the duke of Sussex, Dec. 31, 1808, and opened Sept. 18, 1809, with Macbeth. It is on an extensive scale; and the whole management was formerly vestsed in Mr. John Kemble, who made many improvements and interesting reforms in the internal economy, science, and costume of dramas.

This great ornament of the metropolis is nearly of a square form, and is insulated. The architect, Mr. Smirke, jun., took for his model the finest specimen of the Doric from the ruins of Athens-the grand temple of Minerva, situated in the Acropolis. The principal front exhibits a portico, which, though magnificent, is greatly inferior to the Athenian original; it is embellished with statues of Tragedy and Comedy, by Flaxman, and with two bassorelievoes representing the ancient and modern drama,

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The interior of the theatre is larger than the old house, and is most appropriately ornamented with the national emblems, the rose, the thistle, and the shamrock. The stage is very spacious, and there are three circles of boxes, two galleries, and an extensive pit. The house is illuminated by a superb chandelier with gas-burners hanging from the centre of the roof. This theatre is calculated to hold upwards of 3,000 persons, and when crowded to produce more than 9007.

The company it would be useless to detail, as the perpetual removals and accessions, would soon render such accounts imperfect. In the various walks of tragedy, comedy, opera, and farce, this house possesses many able performers. The "leading stars" may not be numerous, but there are many steady lights that contribute to sustain the brilliancy and character of the English stage.

222

CHARACTER OF THE PRINCIPAL NATIONS OF EUROPE.

IN religion, the German is sceptical; the Englishman devout; the Frenchman zealous; the Italian ceremonious; the Spaniard a bigot.

In keeping his word, the German is faithful; the Englishman safe; the Frenchman giddy; the Italian shuffling; the Spaniard a cheat.

In giving advice, the German is slow; the Englishman fearless; the Frenchman precipitate; the Italian nice; the Spaniard circumspect.

In external appearance, the German is large: the Englishman well made; the Frenchman well looking; the Italian of middle size; the Spaniard awkward.

In dress, the German is shabby; the Englishman costly; the Frenchman fickle; the Italian ragged; the Spaniard decent.

In manners, the German is clownish; the Englishman barbarous ; the Frenchman easy; the Italian polite; the Spaniard proud.

In keeping a secret, the German forgets what he has been told; the Englishman conceals what he should devulge, and devulges what he should conceal; the Frenchman tells every thing; the Italian is close; the Spaniard mysterious.

In vanity, the German boasts little: the Englishman despises all other nations; the Frenchman flatters every

body; the Italian estimates cautiously; the Spaniard is indifferent.

In eating and drinking, the German is a drunkard; the Englishman gross and luscious; the Frenchman delicate; the Italian moderate; the Spaniard peuurious,

In offending and doing good, the German is inactive; the Englishman does both without consideration; the Italiau is prompt in beneficence, but vindictive; the Spaniard indifferent.

In speaking, the German and Frenchman speak badly but write well; the Englishman speaks and writes well; the Italian speaks well, writes much and well; the Spaniard speaks little, writes little but well.

In address, the German looks like a blockhead; the Englishman resembles neither a fool nor a wise man; the Frenchman is gay; the Italian is prudent, but looks like a fool; the Spaniard is quite the reverse.

Servants are companions in Germany; obedient in England; masters in France; respectful in Italy; submissive in Spain.

The women are housewives in Germany; queens in England; ladies in France; captives in Italy; slaves in Spain.

In courage, the German resembles a bear; the Englishman a lion; the Frenchman au eagle; the Italian a fox; and the Spaniard an elephant.

In the sciences, the German is a pedant; the Englishman a philosopher; the Frenchman a smatterer; the Itahan a professor; and the Spaniard a grave thinker.

Magnificence-In Germany the princes, in England the ships, in France the court, in Italy the churches, in Spain the armories are magnificent.

222

SPANISH HEROISM.

FATIGUED and exhausted by forced marches, the regi ment to which Capt. Korff belonged arrived before the monastery of Figueiras, in Spain. The Colonel of the regiment, a Frenchman, sent in an officer, to demand of the prior the necessary refreshment for the men, as well as for the staff, consisting of about twenty officers. The prior, with some, of the monks, came out to meet the General, assuring him that the inhabitants of Figueiras would provide for the soldiers, but that he himself would prepare a frugal meal for the staff. The prior's offer was.

accepted; Captain Korff received from the General some commissions for the regiment, and about an hour afterwards it was announced to the prior that the dinner was served up in the refectory of the monastery. The General, who was aware that the French in Spain had reason to be on their guard in eating and drinking what was offered by the natives, invited the prior to dine with them; he and two other monks accepted the invitation in such a manner as to leave no doubt that he felt himself much flattered by it. After the officers had taken their seats, the prior, said grace, carved, eat of every dish first, and, with his two brethren, poured out the wine, drank plentifully with his guests. It was not till toward the end of the repast, that Capt. Korff returned, having been detained by the commissioners of the General longer than he expected. During that interval he found an opportunity to take some refreshment, and only participated in the lively Conversation of the company, hosts as well as guests, at the monastery. The General in particular, expressed his satisfaction to the prior, whose kind reception had surpassed all expectation. Suddenly, however, the cheerfulness of the prior was changed into profound seriousness; he rose from his seat, thanked the company for the honour they had done him, and concluded with asking if any of them had affairs to settle in this world; adding with emphasis: "This, Gentlemen, is the last meal you and I shall take on earth: in an hour we shall all be before the judgement seat of God." Cold trembling horror seized the amazed guests; for the prior and his two monks had poisoned the wine in which they had pledged the French officers; all the antidotes given by the French physicians where in vain; in less than an hour every man of them had ceased to live.

CONJURING BOX.

THE following amusing instance of the general ingorance of the Turks with respect to the European Arts, is related in a tour through Greece,- The Disdar of Athens was very rapacious in his demands for leave to copy inscriptions, &c. "After experiencing numerous vexations from this mercenary Turk (says the author) a ridiculous circumstance at length released us from his importunities. I was one day engaged in sketching the Parthenon with the aid of camera obscura, when the Disdar, whose surprise was excited by the novelty of the sight, asked, with

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